Improvement in wind-engines



U. MINER; Wind-Engine.

No 203;4s

Patented May 7, 1878.

.Gflliner Ill/m5; 5

UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY o. MINER, OF STAFFORD, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN WIND-ENGINES,

Specification forming pm of Letters Patent No. 203,480, dated a 7, 1878;application med" March 16, 1878. t

To all whomit may concern Be it known that I, HENRY G. MINER, of

ful Improvements in Windmills, of which the following is aspecification:

The object of this invention is to so improve the wing-vanes ofwindwheels as to enable them to more fully utilize the motive force ofthe wind than heretofore, and alsoto improve the method of securing saidwings in position and, further, to provide an effective andreadily-operated means of swinging the main vane to or from the wind,and thereby causing the wheel to be turned away from or into itsoperative position.

It consists, first, in a wind-wheel wing-vane having the line of itscross-section a double or approximately S-shaped curve, so that whensaid vane is arranged in a proper oblique position in a wheel its frontedge will stand directly in the path of the wind, and the rear edge willstand at angles thereto; second, in providing the wing-vanes ofwind-wheels with ears, projecting laterally in opposite directions fromthe opposite corners of the outer ends of said vanes, and arranging thevanes in awheel in such position that the ears of each lap those of thevanes on both sides, and two lapping ears are attached to the outer rimof the wheel by a single bolt, so that the vanes are attached togetheraswell as to the rim, and great strength is given to the wheel; third, inhinging the beam of the main vane to the turn-table on an. inclinedpintle, so that said vane will be held by gravity in a position parallelwith the axis of the wheel, and automatically returned to said position,when released, after being swung to the wind, for the purpose ofshifting the wheel. 4

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a side elevation of my improvedwin d-wheel and connections. Fig. 2 is a rear View, showing theregulating-vane swung to a position for shifting the wheel from thewind. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of a series of the vanes.Fig. at is a detached view, showing the vanes in cross-section.

' The letter A indicates the wheel, fixed upon a shaft, B, which has abearing partly in an arm, b, projecting from a standard, a, rising Ifrom the turn-table D, the upper portion or cover of said bearing beingformed in an arm, 0, projecting from the foot of a bracket, f, in theother end of which is formed the upper bearing for the rod g, which isintended td communicate motion to any desired machinery. H designatesthewings or wheel-vanes. Transversely or in cross-section these wingsare formed on a double or reversed curve, the 'back edge being slightlyless curved than the front. These wings or vanes are secured, in aseries of any desired number, radially around the hub I of the wheel,and are bound at their outer edges or ends by means of a rim, K, thesaid outer edges or ends being provided with ears L, projectinglaterally in opposite directions from the opposite corners of the outerends or edges of said vanes,.thc ear of the lefthand corner of one vanelapping the ear of the right-hand corner of the next, and secured to therim by a single bolt, by means of which great strength is given to thewheel.

The turn-table D is provided with 'two lat eral ears or lugs, d d, thelower one projecting slightly beyond the upper, through which passes andis secured an inclined pintle, N,-

upon which the branches 0 0 of the bifurcated beam P of the main vane Qare pivoted, in such manner that the gravity of said main vane will tendto keep it in its normal position parallel with the axis of the wheel.The turn-table D is mounted upon the upright standard R, which isconstructed of two upright sections, R R, leaving a space between forthe downwardly extending driving shaft. Said turn-table, at its rear, isprovided with two vertical standards, S S, which are preferablyconstructed in one piece, forming an attachment,'which may be secured tothe turn-table by means of screws, or in any other convenient manner.One of said standards is provided with an elastic cushion, 8, againstwhich the beam of the main vane rests when in its normal position, andwhich serves to take up the shock when said main vane suddenly assumessuch position from any cause, in order to prevent injury to theapparatus. The other standard, S, serves as a fulcrum for the lever T,the long arm of which is secured by a connection, U, to the end of aninclined beam, V, attached to the main beam, the short arm beingprovided with a cord, W, extending downwardlythrough the opening at thecenter ofthe turn-table, and terminating below within ready control ofan attendant, by means of which the position of the main vane may becontrolled.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood in connectionwith the above description. vanes stand directly in the path of the windby reason of their double curves, insteadof at an angle to the pathofthe wind, as in the ordinary construction, the whole of the force of thewind striking the face of the wheel is exerted on the vanes, securingthe full power of the same, causing the wheel to rotate in properdirection. By reason of the inclined position in which the main beam ispivoted, it always tends to assume its normal position after beingshifted.

. What I claim is- I 1. A wind-wheel having its wing-vanes constructedin cross-section of a double or approximately S-shaped curve, whereby,when said vanes are arranged in proper position, the front edges will bepresented directly to the path of the wind, and the rear edges will Asthe front edges of the wind stand at an angle thereto, substantially asand for the purposes specified.

2. In a wind-wheel, the wing-vanes provided with ears projectinglaterally in opposite directions from opposite corners of the outer endsof said vanes, and arranged in the wheel in such position that the earsof each lap those of the vanes on both sides, and two lapping ears maybe attached to the rim of the wheel by a single bolt, substantially asspecified.

3. The turn-table provided with ears or lugs 01 d, in combination withthe main vane Q, bifurcated beam P, and pivot N, constructed andarranged substantially as described, whereby said main vane is held bygravity in a position parallel with the wheel, and automaticallyreturned to said position, when released, after being swung to the windfor thepurpose of shifting the wheel, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto set my handin thepresence of the subscribing witnesses.

HENRY G. MINER.

Witnesses JAMES L. Nonnrs, JAMES A. RUTHERFORD.

